One of the Albufeira Four who were recently given access to Celtic’s training camp in the Algarve and a boozy night out with Martin O’Neill.
The Celtic boss enjoyed the session so much that he referenced it twice in his media conference after the pre-season draw with Middlesbrough.
McDonald seems to be one of the rising stars at the Record and is being handed the job of being one of their Celtic Men. Which was the point of teaming him up with Michael Gannon on the Algarve jolly. And a permanent slot on the Record Celtic Podcast.
All summer long there has been positive vibes about Celtic’s transfer activities from the lads at the Record.
More than nine weeks on from the Scottish Cup Final one signing has been made.
Daizen Maeda, Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi are no longer at the club.
In previous years Celtic would be slaughtered for that sort of situation by the Record.
CELTIC AND THEIR SPECIAL DAILY RECORD RELATIONSHIP
Not this summer. Filling their books with bland interviews on the Algarve and a few scoops with O’Neill has a calming effect.
Last November Gannon was in overdrive about how brilliant Wilfried Nancy was going to be. The Record reporter seemed to have every detail covered on the Colombus Crew manager- except that he would bomb spectacularly at Celtic.
McDonald is following that trend. Everything in the Celtic garden is looking rosy. Michael Nicholson is ahead of the curve, a football visionary. And certainly beyond even the mildest of criticism on the pages of the Record.
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From what we understand personal terms have been agreed already for the German under 21 midfielder and he is pushing for a move to Celtic.
He does have options in the Bundesliga but I think that he’s pretty much set his heart on a move to Celtic.
Obviously his agent, Cristian Nerlinger, former Rangers player, he was the agent that brokered Nicolas Kuhn’s move to Celtic.
So Celtic do have a decent working relationship with him. So I think think that all parties are hopeful that a deal will be reached.
He is another one that is out of contract next summer, his club are willing to lose them for nothing if it means keeping him a year with them (Paderborn) being back in the Bundesliga after winning promotion last year.
Look, Celtic may have to pay more than they initially want, but, yeah, we just need to see how that one progresses. All parties are still quite hopeful that they will get that over the line.
Naturally there was no coverage of the prospect of Callum McGregor leaving this summer.
The Celtic captain has been shielded from media activity over four pre-season matches.
O’Neill had a night out with the press lads in Albufeira rather than sit down with his captain to discuss his end of season comments about the ambitions of the club.
One signing in two months is even less than the most cynical of supporters suggested when last season came to an end.
The 29 minute podcast made no mention of Alistair Johnston.
After three and a half years at Celtic CEO Nicholson will be anxious to cash in on the defender following his World Cup profiling.
NOTE: So far this summer David Friel of The Sun was first with the news of Celtic’s moves for Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh
